Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to reply to this very pressing issue for Duleek boys and girls national schools, both of which were built in 2015. From the outside, one might mistakenly think that this looks like a state-of-the-art school but, unfortunately, one does not have to look too closely to see the faults left behind by JJ Rhatigan. There are several outstanding issues, but the most pressing is the condition of the roof. JJ Rhatigan contracted two experts to assess the roof and both agreed the problem existed. The National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, instructed JJ Rhatigan to complete the remedial works. These rectification works commenced in July 2019 and were completed in August 2019.

Unfortunately, these rectification works were not successful. The maintenance contractor for the roof pointed out many poor workmanship issues. In July 2018, JJ Rhatigan stated that a consultant engineer and roof specialist would be appointed to monitor the rectification works for a period of 12 months from their completion. This never happened. That individual has not been to the school since these remedial works were carried out in August 2019.

A representative from the NDFA has stated that the inspection by this individual cannot take place due to Covid-19. Inspections could have taken place between August 2019 and mid-March 2020 but, as with so many other issues, Covid-19 has provided a great opportunity for hiding and doing as little as possible. The remedial works have failed and puddles of water on the floors of both schools continue to be a health and safety risk.

I also draw the Minister of State's attention to numerous other issues that remain outstanding since 2015. A partition was never installed correctly. It remains in disrepair despite numerous attempts to engage with the contractors who installed it. This was to be an automated partition.The building management system does not work. As the Minister of State is aware, this system monitors, supervises, controls and reports on smart building technology systems and has been raised with the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, on numerous occasions. The heating system must be flushed by the school's maintenance contractor due to blockages in the system.

With the current Covid-19 ventilation policies, the heat levels must be increased but it is impossible to do that as some classrooms do not receive sufficient heat.

The issue of drinking water has been resolved last week and I thank the Minister of State for that. The water tank leaked in early September 2020 and was inspected by the original contractor. It was temporarily fixed by the in-house schools contractor but no long-term solution has been presented by the original contractor.

Here we are in May 2021, with a state-of-the-art school in Duleek where remedial works have been carried out on the remedial works, all of which have failed. It is completely unacceptable in this day and age that contractors that are paid quite handsomely for works can continue to walk away with poor workmanship and still get paid by NDFA. The last resort is that the schools apply for the emergency works funding to ensure that the schools can operate safely.

Can the Minister of State give a commitment here today that moneys will be made available for all these outstanding issues. I thank the Minister of State.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising this issue, which gives me an opportunity to update her and the House on the current position in respect of the issues affecting Duleek Boys National School and Duleek Girls National School since their building project was completed in 2015. Since then the school authorities in question have identified a number of issues with the completed works that have been a cause of concern, some of which have been mentioned by the Senator. The National Development Finance Agency, on behalf of and supported by officials within my Department, has engaged with the school authorities and the contractor with a view to resolving these issues.

A UK-based roofing expert was appointed to investigate the roofing issues and a programme of repair work was undertaken in 2019 with the roofing expert retained to assess if this programme of works was successful. Issues persist with the roof, however, and unfortunately Covid-19 restrictions have affected the completion of the roofing expert’s assessment and recommendations. The NDFA has engaged with officials in the Department and with the schools over the past number of months in order to expedite this process and the resolution of the roofing concerns. I can inform the Senator that officials from the NDFA and the contractor have been on site and I understand the contractor is currently finalising its rectification proposals for the current issues.

Photographic surveys of the roof took place on 3 March and on 12 April to gather further information on the current condition of the roof and this information has been made available to the schools. As discussed with the schools, an expert assessment and recommendation will be completed in respect of the overall roof construction and performance in advance of any works carried out. I assure the Senator that the completion of this assessment is a priority for my Department and I also will raise the Senator’s comments with the Minister, Deputy Foley. This assessment will address the integrity and the ongoing performance of the roofing system and the potential longer-term problems and risks presented by the roof's current configuration. The assessment must also present a robust solution and recommendations to resolve these potential longer-term problems for the lifetime of the roof.

On the other issues raised by the Senator, I can confirm that with the agreement of the Department and in consultation with the schools, investigation and rectification of these issues have commenced.

Finally, the schools had raised a concern about the water supply and I am glad that the Senator has acknowledged that this has been rectified and addressed through the Department’s emergency works scheme. Officials from the Department will collaborate with the schools on any further issues into the future. I thank the Senator again for giving me the opportunity to inform the House of the position as regards these two schools. It is regrettable that some outstanding issues with a building project that was completed as recently as 2015 remain to be resolved and I appreciate the frustration of the school authorities and of the Senator at the time it has taken to find a solution. I can, however, assure the entire school community that the NDFA, which is supported by the Department, is making every effort to work with all of the stakeholders to achieve a satisfactory resolution to the outstanding issues.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister, Deputy Foley's, commitment and the fact that the Department is going to work with the school. Hopefully, I will not be back in the House in September to raise issues that remain outstanding.

At the weekend, there was an announcement by Bishop Tom Deenihan of changes that will be made in many parishes in County Meath. Duleek will be losing Fr. John Conlon to St. Mary's in Drogheda. He has been instrumental in improving primary educational campuses in Duleek, Bellewstown, Cushinstown and Mount Hanover. Fr. Conlon has worked tirelessly on this issue of remedial works. The people of our parish will miss him greatly. Our loss is Drogheda's gain, and I wish him every blessing as he continues to do God's work there. Our parish was certainly blessed to have him for the past 16 years. I also wish to mention Fr. Brendan Ferris who is moving from Curraha, Ardcath and Clonalvy to Stamullen, and Fr. Declan Kelly in Stamullen who is heading to Kilcloon. I also wish Fr. Jim Lynch of Kentstown good health in his retirement from the priesthood and welcome back Fr. Brennan to Beauparc.

It is important to acknowledge the administrative and, indeed, moral compass roles that the church plays in schools throughout this country. I wish to put that on the record of the House, and I appreciate it.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I wish Fr. Conlon well. As the Senator said, Duleek's loss is Drogheda's gain. I also wish Fr. Ferris, Fr. Kelly, Fr. Lynch and Fr. Brennan the best of success in the future in all their endeavours.

To conclude on the matter of Duleek school, I heard the Senator's list of further complaints, for example, the partition not being installed correctly, the building management system not working and, according to her, the blocking of the heating system. She also mentioned puddles of water on the floors, which I am not sure has been rectified. The Senator is pointing to the roof, that it is directly from the roof. I have a note of all those issues. It is very regrettable that this happened. Obviously, there is poor workmanship, and I am sure the Department is liaising with the original builders and contractors as well as JJ Rhatigan and Company to ensure this is expedited and the school brought up to a reputable standard as soon as possible.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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We have not even opened the school-----

Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party)
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The Senator can engage with the Minister of State afterwards.